Sorry to read this and for the loss of your beloved bike.
I have come to conclusion, that due to BMW having a huge success with their GS/A range of bikes, these have over the years become a number one bike to steal.
I honestly believe that due to sheer volume of influencers showing off their bikes, how cool they are, accessories manufacturers making them 5x black etc. So there is a desire from lesser wealthy parts that f this world to have them. Now
“where do these bike go then?” you might ask.
I would be inclined to say anywhere in the world really, one of those places more than likely is Russia, bod over there placing an order… then there are places like South America, Africa, Thailand etc. The thieves no doubt work for a middle man (the one who keeping his finger nails clean and making a big profit), who does pay them (let’s say £200) per stolen bike. This means that a Gand of 3-4 toe rags can earn in excess of £300-£500+ per day, joyriding, knowing that they are at that very moment in time are untouchable, due to lack of police resources, the paperwork trail it would leave coppers dealing with and that you will simply end up getting a crime reference number. Your bike does get put into shipping container and before you know it, the thing is at sea mere day or two later.
Nobody will be going to look for your bike in a hurry. The toe rags are totally aware of this. So it makes for very easy pickings. The scum are also aware that no member of the public will put them self in the path of danger when scum welding hammers, angle grinders and crow bars.
You tell me if some young lads from Brazil, in this (and many other) video can afford to buy GS/A just so that he/they could abused like this. I doubt it very much, chances are these very bikes have been taken from the street of European cities.
To sum up, my point is, don’t buy a flashy bike for everyday rides to the shops or Starbucks. Buy a nice but hardly desirable machine for this very purpose. And have your nicer bike for those times when you are going away to Euroland for couple of weeks.